Local Access and Transport Areas

In U.S. telecommunications,Local access and transport area (LATA) refers to a geographical area in the U.S. which is allocated to telephone companies. The telephone companies, legally termed as local exchange carriers (LECs) provide telecommunication services, within the allotted areas.

A LATA may be within the same U.S. state or may span across more than one state, as laid down in Telecommunications Act of 1996.

Two types of connections are possible.

• IntraLATA − It is a connection between two LECs within the LATA.

• InterLATA − It is a connection providing long-distance service between LECs in different LATAs.